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The recent focus is on the analysis of biological activities of extracts from thirteen folk medicinal plants from arid and semi-arid zones of Balochistan, Pakistan. Only a small proportion of them have been scientifically analyzed. Therefore the present investigation explores the biochemical and bioactive potential of different plant parts. Superoxide dismutase was detected maximum in Fagonia indica, (184.7±5.17 units/g), ascorbate peroxidase in Tribulus pentandrus (947.5±12.5 units/g), catalase and peroxidase were higher in Peganum harmala (555.0±5.0 and 2597.8±0.4 units/g, respectively). Maximum esterase and α-amylase activity was found in Zygophyllum fabago (14.3±0.44 and 140±18.8 mg/g, respectively). Flavonoid content was high in T. pentandrus (666.1±49 μg/ml). The highest total phenolic content and tannin was revealed in F. olivieri (72125±425 and 37050±1900 μM/g, respectively). The highest value of ascorbic acid was depicted in F. bruguieri (F.b.N) (448±1.5 μg/g). Total soluble proteins and reducing sugars were detected higher in P. harmala (372.3±54 and 5.9 ±0.1 mg/g, respectively). The maximum total antioxidant capacity was depicted in Tetraena simplex (16.9±0.01 μM/g). The highest value of lycopene and total carotenoids exhibited in T. terrestris (7.44±0.2 and 35.5±0.0 mg/g, respectively). Chlorophyll contents were found maximum in T. pentandrus var. pterophorus (549.1±9.9, 154.3±10, and 703.4±20.2 ug/g, respectively). All taxa exhibited anti-inflammatory activity and anti-diabetic potential. Z. eurypterum seeds exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory potential (96%), along with other taxa indicated (96-76%) activity when compared with the standard drug diclofenac sodium (79%). Seeds of T. pentandrus (85%) exhibited the highest anti-diabetic activity. The other taxa also exhibited inhibitory activity of α-amylase ranging from (85-69%) compared with Metformin (67%) standard drug. Phytochemical screening revealed that selected taxa proved to be the potential source of natural antioxidants and could further be explored for invivo studies and utilized in pharmaceutical industries as potent therapeutic agents validating their ethno-pharmacological uses.

Abstract. Haq AU, Saeed S, Ahmed A. 2021. Species diversity and ethnobotanical inventory of wild flora used by the folk community of Shinghar Balochistan, Pakistan. Nusantara Bioscience 13: 148-157. Upper Suleiman Mountain of Shinghar Balochistan, Pakistan is little known, the structural and floristic composition are poorly understood. The dominant socio-linguistic groups of the area are Pashtoon tribes, having a long history of medicinal plants utilization as a part of their indigenous primary health care system. The present study was carried out to describe the plant species diversity of Shinghar, and to the inventory of some important wild medicinal, edible and endemic plants of the region. A total of 102 species belonging to 42 families and 88 genera were recorded. Herbs were dominant comprising 62% of documented plants, followed by shrubs (26%), and trees (14%). Medicinal plants of the area are being used in treatments of many ailments like joint pains, stomach problems, skin allergies and inflammation.. Edible plants were 14% of total recorded plants. The documented plants were also used for other use-categories than medicinal and edible purposes including fodder, fencing, and ornamental. In addition, some of the medicinal plants were considered poisonous but used for medicine. Elevation of the area ranged from 1700 to 3400 meters above sea level. The dominating tree was Pinus gerardiana, and the area is also known as the Chilghoza Forest. Asteraceae was the dominating family in the area with 14 species, followed by Lamiaceae (7 species), Poaceae (6 species), Solanaceae, Leguminosae, Fabaceae, and Apocynaceae with 5 species each. The results revealed the importance of endemic and endangered plants of area which are need to be conserve. Moreover, the present study highlighted species diversity not earlier described from high altitudes.

10Recent focus is on analysis of biological activities of extracts from plant species. Zygophyllaceae 11 is exceedingly important angiosperm family with many taxa being used in folk medicines widely 12 dispersed in arid and semi-arid zones of Balochistan, Pakistan. Only a small proportion of them 13 have been scientifically analyzed and many species are nearly facing extinction. Therefore 14 present investigation explores the biochemical and bioactive potential of fourteen folk medicinal 15 plants usually used for treatments of different ailments. Fresh aerial parts of nine taxa and two 16 fruit samples were collected from plants growing in arid and semi-arid zones of Balochistan and 17 analyzed for enzymatic, non-enzymatic and other biochemical activities. Higher phytochemical 18 activities were detected in the aerial parts. Superoxide dismutase was detected maximum in 19 Fagonia indica, (184.7±5.17 units/g), ascorbate peroxidase in Tribulus longipetalus subsp. 20 longipetalus (947.5±12.5 Units/g), catalase and peroxidase was higher in Peganum harmala 21 (555.0±5.0 and 2597.8±0.4 units/g respectively). Maximum esterase and alpha amylase activity 22was found in Zygophyllum fabago (14.3±0.44 and 140±18.8 mg/g respectively). Flavonoid 23 content was high in T. longipetalus subsp. longipetalus (666.1±49 µg/ml). The highest total 24 phenolic content and tannin was revealed in F. olivieri (72125±425 and 37050±1900 µM/g. 25 respectively). Highest value of ascorbic acid was depicted in F. bruguieri var. rechingeri 26 (448±1.5 µg/g). Total soluble Proteins and reducing sugars were detected higher in P. harmala 27 (372.3±54 and 5.9±0.1 mg/g respectively). Maximum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was 28 depicted in Z. simplex (16.9±0.01 µM/g). Pigment analysis exhibited the high value of lycopene 29 and total carotenoids in T. terrestris (7.44±0.2 and 35.5±0.0 mg/g respectively). Chlorophyll a, b 30 and total chlorophyll content was found maximum in T. longipetalus subsp. pterophorus 31 (549.1±9.9, 154.3±10 and 703.4±20.2 ug/g respectively). All taxa exhibited anti-inflammatory 32 activity as well as anti-diabetic inhibitory potential. Seed extracts of Zygophyllum eurypterum 33 (96%) exhibited highest inhibitory potential, along with twelve other taxa of Zygophyllaceae 34 indicated (96-76%) activity when compared with the standard drug diclofenac sodium (79%). 35Seeds of T. longipetalus subsp. longipetalus (85%) exhibited the highest anti-diabetic activity; 36 other eleven taxa also exhibited inhibitory activity of α-amylase ranging from (85-69%) 37 compared with Metformin (67%) standard drug. Phytochemical screening revealed that selected 38 taxa proved to be the potential source of natural antioxidants and could further be explored for 39 in-vivo studies and utilized in pharmaceutical industries as potent therapeutic agents validating 40 their ethno-pharmacological uses.41 42 Keywords: Zygophyllaceae, enzymatic antioxidants, Non-enzymatic antioxidants 43 Phytochemicals, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, Balochistan...

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